Defoe House, the Barbican, London

Apartment alterations: New sliding doors and built-in furniture

Small interventions can make a real difference.  The client wants a guest room that can revert, when not in use, to a study adjacent to the lounge.  Made to measure storage furniture, comprising a wall pull-out bed, two wardrobes and shelving for small items and the music system where placed against the back wall.  A new sliding door with hardwood trim provides the room separation. The choice of hardwood trim, deep blue and white colour scheme works well with the existing architecture of the Barbican and the deep brown red Merbau flooring used throughout the apartment.

The opportunity was taken to rationalise the existing perimeter ceiling detail which accommodates spot lighting by merging all these surfaces with the new sling door pelmet and a new dropped ceiling over the entrance, creating a more coherent arrangement. All new lighting is low energy LED and all furniture is custom-made for this project. 

Photography and styling: Elisa Franceschi